Railway skate



S. J. BECK RAILWAY SKATE `/,Feb. 24, 1959 2 sheets-smet 1 original Filed oct. 1i. 1954 wfmw BY gif,

Feb. 24, 1959 s. J. BECK A f 2,8745645 RAILWAY SKATE Original Filed Oct. 11. 1954 y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 5am ue/ vf. BECK IWW/PNEK v l RAILWAY Y Samuel Jones Beck, MeLouth, Kans.

Substitutefor abandoned application Serial No. 461,489, ()ctober 11, 1954. i This application `September 15,

195s, serial No. 762,195 l 9 claims. (ci. 11M- 260)V Y This invention relates to improvements in skates for that class of railway equipmentused in thebraking of railway cars by the provision of apparatus adapted to t over and upon the rail andfto slide therealog when the railway car rolls upon the skate itself. t More particularly, the instant invention relates tdrailway equipment in the nature of that setforth in my fU. S. Patent `2,782,728 and having for its primary object-the provision of improvements'luponthe skate for railway cars therein disclosed and claimed.

The instant application constitutes a j substitute for my abandoned application Serial No. 461,489 tiled Oct. 11, 1954. l

It is the most important object of the present invention to provide a railway skate having means for holding the same vupon the rail so that, when contacted by the car 2,874,645 Patented Feb. 24, i959 ice connected by spring means permitting not only utilization Iof structure for separating the same out of clamping engagement with the rail, but permitting the jaws to rise to a position engaging hooks that maintain the jaws in an elevated position until reset for subsequent use; and many Y additional objects including important details of construcwheel, it will not become displaced, which holding means is fully and completely retractable as the skate skids along the rail in response to 'contact with frogs and other projections or 4abutlrients forming a part'of the rail.`

' In this connection, it is to .be pointed out that conventional railway skates are inadequate because of thezfailure to include"trailfen1bracing Lrneans" for positively holding the s'arne in4 place until the railway car actually rolls Vthereupon.- The omission of such holding or (clamping means `have been omitted for the reason thatlrails are not entirely free from obstructions along ,the side edges thereof'and any depending projection on the skate coming into enrgagement withfrogs and the `like ,would be completely 1u nsatisfactory 'because' of breakage to the v skate itself, 'as

well as the frog, and because fof the nature-of deraifment. In myU. S. patent above-mentioned, there isjprovided a skate havingfyrelea'sable railjclampingA means; operable `"av'utornatically asnthevcafr Wheel rolls Vthereupon"- and for the 'most part, such clamping means, when thus released, clearsjall projections on 'the railfexctpt thejsaid frogs.;`

"(Itis an important object of the'instant invention therefore t0 incrpofte' tht?.priltcilfl vflhenventivndisclosed lin my U; S5 patent'and 'to combine therewith clamping means especiallyadapted for automatically clearing thefrogsas the jawsforining apart of'thecla'rnp, come in tef'centacuherewitn. i j j 1, *Anotherobje'ct' ofV this invention isfto provide arailvway skate havingfapair of opposed clamping'jaws that not only shift upwardly `5`to`a` position clearirgf'the frogs and other abutments when the jaws are movedlinto'en- .ga'gement therewithj'butlwhieh'are `adaptedf-fto swing outwardly inmuch the' vsame-manner as disclosed in my U. S. patentnin' response to the weight'oflthe railway car lwhen one ofv its wheels rolls .upon the skid bar ofA the tskate.-

fr Additional objects include-theiwayrwliiehthe 'clamp insgjiawsfpf the Skate-are mountediforswinging movef ment on'horizontal aires ipdependentlyof jeaeh other'` so EA.the leading end erectr engagesl afrog or other santa g, the way in which the opposed jws'ar'e'iertion, all to be made clear as the following specification progresses.

In the drawingsz. j Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a railway skate lmade pursuant to my present invention showing the same operably mounted on a rail and illustrating a car wheel resting thereon. i i Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the railway skate mounted on a rail. r M Fig. 3 is a longitudinal, cross-sectionalview taken on line III- III of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of the skate showing the rail in section. j j Fig. 5 is an elevational view showing the opposite end of the skate and illustrating the rail in cross-section.

Fig. 6 is a vertical, cross-sectional view taken on line VI-VI of Fig. 1. l

Fig. 7 is an enlarged,rfragmentary, detailed, cross-sectional view taken on line VII--VII of Fig. 1; and N Fig. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, detailed, crosssectional view taken on line VIII-VIIIV ofFig. 2. Skate 10 forming thesubject matter of the instant in; vention, is shown in the drawings operably mounted on 'a rail 12, and in Figure l, a car wheel 14 is shownnfrag'- i mentarily in position uponthe skate 10 engaging a substantially triangular-shaped abutment 16 extending upwardly from and forming an integral partof an elongated skid bar 18. The` skid bar 18 which engages directly with the uppermost face of the rail 12 uponfwhich the skate 10 rests, has an end 20 flared upwardly asbest seen in Figs. l and 3, permitting the skate 10 to slidealong the rail 12 without danger of catching on projections suchas frequently occur, especially at rail joints. p

The hollow abutment 16 is provided with a handle n2,2. for ease in carrying and means 23 is provided on ,the abut# ment 16 for releasably clamping the skate 10 toitheV rail `12 until such time as the wheel 14 Vrolls upon the skid bar 18 and particularly upon an elongated actuatorjbarg24 having a ramp-like tongue 26 at its forwardmost end ek.- 'tending beyond Vthe proximal end of the skid bar 18.1" The skid bar 18 Ais provided'withfa longitudinal, upwardly facing groove 28 for clearing the bar24 and va pivot pin 30 adjacent the tongue 26 swingably connects the bar 24 to the skid bar l1,8 for swinging movement on a horizontal axis. Bar 24 extendsthrough an opening 32 in the front face of the abutment 16 and terminates in a spreading or separating head 34 for jaws 36 and '38 of said clamping means 23. Y l

Jaws 36 and 38 are identical and include an elongated 'strap 40 having inclined ends 41 and having heads 42 on the innermost faces thereof normallyheld inengage- Nment with the sides of 'rail'12, asbestseen in Figsflto' 6 inclusive by springs 44 'extending throughthe abutment 716 and interconnecting the jaws 36 and 38.V Springs 44 fore, thereis provided opposed slots 52 in abutmentxv1r46 ,slidablyand rotatably receiving inwardly extendngpintles V54 integral with the stems 48 adjacent the hixigel pins 50.

It is now appreciated that the springs 44 serve to yieldably hold the hinge pins 50 biased against the opposed outermost sides of the abutr'nent 16 and to maintain the pintles 54 within the slots 52 for vertical reciprocation and rotation on horizontal axes, all for purposes hereina-fter to be made clear.

Such manner of interconnecting the jaws 36 and 38 and attaching the same to the abutment 16, permits upward movement of the jaws 36 and 38 to a position where the hinge pins 50 thereof engage within hooks 56 on the opposed sides of abutment 16. Hinge pins are guided upwardly and outwardly and into the hooks 56 by inclined faces 58 terminating at their lowermost ends in elongated horizontal concavities 60 parallel with the hooks 56 and normally receiving the hinge pins 50 in the manner illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 6 of the drawings. A s is clear in Fig. 1, the slots 52 intersect the hooks 56 and the concavities 60 to clear the inwardly extending pintles 54 for free vertical movement with respect to the abutment 16.

As seen in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the actuating bar 24 is provided with a loop 62 within the abutment 16 that clears the proximal spring 44 and the head 34 is disposed beneath the pintles 54 for movement between inwardly extending spreading members 64 integral with the stems 48 of the jaws 36 and 38 and aligned vertically with the pintles 54 therebeneath.

i As seen in Fig. 6 of the drawings, the innermost ends of the separator members 64 are preferably inclined and, therefore, as the bar 24 is swung downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 3 by the weight of wheel 14 resting thereon, head 34 moves toward and skid bar 18 between the separators 64, causing the jaws 36 and 38 to swing outwardly away from each other with the hinge pins 50 rotating within their seats or concavities 60. Noteworthy is the fact that when the wheel 14 moves upon the bar 24 to swing the head 34 thereof downwardly about pivot pin 30, the tongue 26 swings upwardly away from the rail 12 so that the same does not slide On the rail 12 and become damaged and worn ahead of normal deterioration of the skate itself.- On the other hand, when the skate is seated and ready for use as shown in Fig. 3, the tongue 26 engages the rail 12 and receives the wheel 14 without danger of catching and consequent damage to the skate or derailment thereof.

Notwithstanding such arrangement of the tongue 26 andthe provision of the clamping means 23 for holding the skate 10 on the rail, it may be desirable in some instances to provide-auxiliary means to hold the skate 10 in place, particularly along the skid bar 18 remote from abutment 16 so as to maintain the tongue 26 in proper alignment with the oncoming wheel 14. Such auxiliary holding means is illustrated in Figs. l, 2, 7 and 8 and includes a pair of wings 66, one on each side of the skid bar 18and rigid to stub shafts 68 mounted on the skid bar 18 for rotation on horizontal axes. Each stub shaft 68 has an out-turned flange 70 on the innermost end thereof rotatable within an annular groove 72 formed in the skid bar 18 and in a U-shaped retainer 74 that is releasatbly secured to the uppermost face of the skid bar 18 to'hold the stub shaft 68 in place. Intermeshing teeth or serrations 76 are formed on the outermost `face of the ilange 70 and on the proximal faces of skid bar 18 and retainer means 74 as seen in Figs. 7 and 8, and a spring 78, housed within the stub shaft 68 at the innermost end thereof, yieldably holds the flange 70 biased outwardly to interengage the serrations 76.

When the -skate 10 is placed in use, it is positioned upon the rail 12 through use of handle 22 in the manner illustrated by Figs. 2 to 6 inclusive, with the lheads 42 engaging the sides of the rail 12 and the hinge pins 50 seatedwithin their concavities 60. Bar 24 is in the positionshown by Fig. 3 with head 34 raised and the tongue 26 engaging rail 1'2. And, the wings 66 are turned downwardly in embracing relationship to the sides of the rail 12 as seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 7.

As soon as the wheel 14 "rolls upon the tongue 26 and thence upon the bar 24 and the skid bar 18, the head 34 is swung downwardly toward the bar 18, spreading the jaws 36 and 38. It is seen that head 34, acting upon the inclined innermost ends of the spreaders 64, swings the jaws 36 and 38 against the action of springs 44 as the hinge pins 50 rotate'within their concavities 60.

When the wheel 14 engages the abutment 16, the skate 10 is immediately advanced along the rail 12 and as the bar 18 skids therealong, the upft'urned or flared end 20 thereof, clears all projections and the tongue 2 6 is held out of engagement with the rail 12 as shown in Fig. 1.

In the event the skate 10 encounters a frog or other projection along the sides of the rail 12 and the inclined end 41 of either or both of the jaws 36 or 38 come into engagement with, auch nbstruatian, Such iaw immediately swings on its pintle v54 counterclockwise, viewing Fig. l, and as the lowermost edge of the strap 40 thereof passes over the frog, the entire jaw will be raised with respect to the abutment 16 to a position where the hinge pin 50 thereof moves into the corresponding hook 56. Such retention of the jaw above the level of the frog or other protuberance, prevents the jaw from falling back to a position where it wonld tend to catch the frog and become torn off prior to complete clearance of. such Prlnjaction.Y

As soon as the wings 66 contact the frog they will be swung out of the way as the stub shafts 68 rotate and as the springs 78 permit rotation of the ange 70 notwithstanding the presence of serrations 76. Such serration will however, hold the wings 68 swung upwardly away from the frog because of the biasing action of Springs 78.

When the .Skate 10 is again t0 be placed, in use Upon rail 12, the operator can easily remove the hinge pins 50 from the hooks 5,6 and re-position the same in the concavities 60 so that the heads 42 engage the sides of the rail 1,2 when bar 24 is raised to the position shown in Fig. 3. Similarly, the operator may swing the two wings 6.6 downwardly t9 a vrail-@nnbracing position as shown in Figs. l. 2 and 7- Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured b y Letters Patent is:

1. In a skate for use as a brake4 beneath a railroad ,car wheel, a skid bar adapted to receive the wheel yin supporting relationship thereto and to slide along a rail for 'Said wheel while supporting the. latter; a releasabla rail clamp having a pair of opposed jaws; an upstanding abut- ,rnent rigid to, the bar between the jaws and disposed for engagement-by said wheel when the latter is resting on the bar, said jaws engaging opposite sides of the abutment for vertical sliding movement therealong, and being provided with means normally disposed'below the level of said skid bar in engagement with the sides of the rail; spring means interconnecting the. jaws Afor holding the sameV in said engagement with the abutment and the rails, said abutment being provided with vertical guide means forsaid jaws; means on the jaws vengaging `in s/aid guide means for restraining the jaws to vertical movement along the abutment upon engagement of said jaws with vobstructinrs along the rail such as to raise the jaws above the'normal rail-engaging position thereof while the bai-.skids along 'the rail, carrying the wheel; and hook means ofn 'the abutment disposed Vto receive the jaws as they move to the uppermost'ends'of their paths of travel.

2. In a skate for use as a brake beneath a railroad car wheel, a 'skid bar adapted to receive the wheel in supporting relationship thereto and to kslide along a rail for said wheel while supporting the latter; Ia releasable rail damp having a pair nf Qppnsail jawn; an npata'nding abilit- ,manf .rigidtaltlin bar' between tha iaws and dianased 'far engagement by Lsaid wheel when the latter is .resting on s, the bar, said jaws engaging `opposite sides of the abutment for vertical'sliding movement therealong, and being provided with means normally disposed below the level of said skid bar in engagement with the sides of the rail; spring means interconnecting the jaws for holding the same in said engagement with the abutment and the rails, said abutment being provided with vertical guide means for said jaws; and means on the jaws engaging in said vertical guide means for restraining the jaws to vertical movement along the abutment upon engagement of said jaws with obstructions along the rail such as to raise the jaws above the normal rail-engaging position thereof while the bar skids along the rail, carrying the wheel.

3. In a skate for use as a brake beneath a railroad car wheel, a skid bar adapted to receive the wheel in supporting relationship thereto and to slide along a rail for said wheel while supporting the latter; a releasable rail clamp having a pair of opposed jaws; Van upstanding abutment rigid to the bar between the jaws and disposed for engagement by said wheel when the latter is restingV on the bar, said jaws having horizontal hinge pins en-` gaging opposite sides of the abutment for vertical sliding movement therealong, and being provided with means normally disposed below the level of said skid bar in engagement with the sides of the rail; spring means interconnecting the jaws for holding the same in said engagementwith the abutment and the rails, `said pins being disposed for swinging ,movement of the'jaws outwardly away from said sides of the'rail `and away from each other against the action of said spring means and about said pins as fulcrums, said abutment being provided with vertical guide means for said jaws; and means on the jaws engaging in said guide means for restraining the jaws to vertical movement along the abutment upon engagement of said jaws with obstructions along the rail such as to raise the jaws above the normal rail-engaging position thereofrwhile the bar skids along the rail; carrying the wheel.

4. In a skate for use as a brake beneath a railroad car wheel, a skid bar adapted to receive the wheel in supporting relationship thereto and to slide along a rail for said wheel while supporting the latter; ka releasable rail clamp having a pair of opposed jaws; an upstanding abutment rigid to the bar between the jaws and disposed for` engagement by said wheel when the latter is resting on the bar,v said jaws engaging `opposite sides `of the abutment for vertical sliding movement therealong, and being provided with means normally disposed below the level of said skid bar in engagement with the sides of the rail; spring means interconnecting the jaws for holding the same in said engagement with the abutment and the rails, said abutment being provided with vertical guide means for said jaws; means on the jaws engaging in said guide means for restraining the jaws to vertical movement along the abutment upon engagement of said jaws with obstructions along the rail such as to raise the jaws above the normal rail-engaging position thereof while the bar skids along the rail, carrying the wheel; and an actuating element mounted on the skid bar for vertical swinging movement, said element having means disposed for movement between the jaws when the element is swung downwardly whereby to spread the jaws apart against the action of said spring means and out of engagement with said sides of the rail,` said element overlying the skid bar within the path of travel of said wheel for downward movement thereby as the wheel rolls upon said element and against said abutment.

5. In a skate for use as a brake beneath a railroad car wheel, a skid bar adapted to receive the wheel in supporting relationship thereto and to slide along a rail for said wheel while supporting the latter; a releasable rail clamp having a pair of opposed jaws; an upstanding abutment rigid to the bar between the jaws and disposed for engagement by said wheel when the latter is resting on the bar, said jaws having horizontal hinge pins engagmovement therealong; and being provided `with meansnormally disposed below the level of said skid bar in engagement with the sides of the rail; spring means interconnecting the jaws for holding the same in said engagement with the abutment and the rails, said pins being disposedfor swinging movement of the jaws outwardly away from said sides of the rail and away from each other against the action of said spring means and about said pins as fulcrums, said abutment being provided with vertical guide means for said jaws; means on the jaws engaging in said guide means for restraining the jaws to vertical movement along the abutment upon engagement of said jaws with obstructions along the rail such as to raise the jaws above the normal railengaging position thereof while the bar skids along the rail, j carrying the. wheel; and an actuating element mounted on'the skid'bar forvertical'swinging movement, said element having means disposed for movement between the jaws when theV element is swung downwardly whereby to swing the jaws apart and out Vol? engagement with said sides of the rail, said element overlying the skid bar within the path of travel of said wheel for downward movement thereby as the wheel rolls upon said element and against said abutment.

6. In a skate for use as a brake beneath a railroad car wheel, a skid bar adapted to receive the wheel in supporting relationship thereto and to slide along a rail for said wheel while supporting the latter; a releasable rail clamp having a pair of opposed jaws; an upstanding abutment rigid to the bar between `the jaws and disposed for engagement by said wheel when the latter is resting on the bar, said jawsl engaging opposite sides ofthe abutment for verticalA sliding movement therealong, and being provided with means normally disposed below the level of said skid 'bar 'in engagement with the sides of the rail; spring means interconnecting the jaws for holding the same in said engagement with the abutment and therails, said abutment being provided with vertical guide slots for said jaws; and horizontal pintles on the jaws engaging in said guide slots for restraining the jaws to verticaly movement along the abutment upon engage- `mentV of said jaws with obstructions alongthe'rail such as to raise the jaws above the normal rail-engaging position thereof while the bar skids along the rail, carrying the wheel, said pintles being vertically slidable in the slots, tiltable in the slots to permit swinging of the jaws toward and away from each other, and rotatable in the slots to permit the jaws to rise at one end thereof as such one end engages an obstruction.

7. In a skate for use as a brake beneath a railroad car wheel, a skid bar adapted to receive the wheel in supporting relationship thereto and to slide along a rail for said wheel while supporting the latter; a releasable rail clamp having a pair of opposed jaws; an upstanding abutment rigid to the bar between the jaws and disposed for engagement by said wheel when the latter is resting on the bar, said jaws engaging opposite sides of the abutment for vertical sliding movement therealong, and being provided with means normally disposed below the level of said skid bar in engagement with the sides of Vthe rail; spring means interconnecting the jaws for holding the same in said engagement with the abutment and the rails, said abutment being provided with vertical guide slots for said jaws; horizontal pintles on the jaws engaging in said guide slots for restraining the jaws to vertical movement along the abutment upon engagement of said jaws with obstructions along the rail such as -to raise the jaws above the normal rail-engaging position thereof while the bar skids along the rail, carrying the wheel, said pintles being vertically slidable in the slots, tiltable in the slots to permit swinging of the 4jaws toward and away from each other, and rotatable inhibe slots to permit the jaws to rise at one end thereof as such one end engages an obstruction; and an actuating element mounted on the .skid bar 91' varial Swinging 910V@- men,t,rsaid element having means disposed for movement between the jaws when the element is swnng downwardly whereby to spread the jaws apart against the action of said spring means and out of engagement with said sides of the rail, said element overlying the skid bar within the path ot travel Qt Said wheel for downward movement thereby as .the wheel rolls nPOn Said element and against .Said abutment..

8. In a skate for nse as a brake beneath a railroad car wheel, a skid bar adapted to receive the wheel in supporting relationship thereto and to slide along a rail for said wheel while supporting the latter; la releasable rail clamp having a p air of opposed jaws; an upstanding abntment rigid to the bar between the jaws and disposed for engagement by said wheel when the latter is resting on the bansaid jaws having horizontal hinge pins engaging opposite sides of the abutment yfor vertical sliding movement therealong, and being provided with means normally disposed below the level of said skid bar in engagement with the sides of the rail; spring means interconnecting the jaws for holding the same in said engagementwith the abutment and the rails, Said Pins being disposed for swinging movement of the jaws outwardly away from said sides of the rail and away from earth other against the action of said spring means and about said pins as fulcrums, s aid abutment being provided with vertical guide slots for said jaws; and horizontal pintles on the jaws engaging in said guide slots for restraining the jaws to vertical movement along the abutment upon engagementof said jaws with obstructions along the rail such as to raise the jaws above the normal rail-,engaging position thereof while the bar skids along the rail, carrying the wheel, said pintles being vertically slidable in the slots, tiltable in the slots to permit swinging of the jaws toward and away from each other, and rotatable in the slots to permit the jaws to rise at one end thereofas such one end engages an obstruction, said abutment being provided with horizontal concavities normally receiving the hinge pins. Y

9 VIn a skate for use as a brake beneath a railroad car wheel, a skid bar adapted to receive the wheel in sup- PQring relationship thereto and to slide along a rail for said wheel while supporting the latter; a releasable rail clamp khaving a pair of opposedjaws; an upstanding abutment rigid to the bar between the jaws and disposed yfor engagement by said wheel when the latter is resting 0n the bar, said jaws having hnrizantal hinge pins engagins. nppnsife sides of the abutment for vertical sliding movement therealong, and being provided with means normally disposed below the level of said skid bar in engagement with the sides of the rail; spring means interconnecting the jaws for holding the same in said engagement with theabutment and the rails, said pins being disposed for swinging movement 4of the jaws outwardly away from said sides of the rail and away from each other against the action of said spring means and about said pins as fulcrums, said abutment being provided with vertical guide slots for said jaws; and horizontal pintles on the jaws engaging in said guide slots for restraining the jaws to vertical movement along the abutment upon engagement of said jaws with obstructions along the rail such as to raise the jaws above the normal rail-engaging position thereof while the bar skids along the rail, carrying the wheel, said pintles being vertically slidable in the slots, tiltable in the slots to permit swinging Iof the jaws toward and away from each other, and rotatable in the slots to permit the jaws to rise at one end thereof as such one end engages an obstruction, said abutment being provided with horizontal coneavities normally receiving the hinge pins, and hooks disposed to receive the hinge pins when the jaws are moved to the uppermost ends of their vertical paths of travel by said obstruction.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 579,667 Wilhelmsen Mar. 30, 1897 1,104,528' Melville July 2l, 1914 1,293,831 McDermid Feb. ll, 1919 1,439,089 Gallagher Dec. 19, 1922 1,522,403 Wood Ian. 6, 1925 2,199,166 Warden Apr. 30, 1940v 2,613,612 Bone Oct. 14, 1952 2,762,314 Hayes Sept. 11, 1956 2,782,728 Beck Feb. 26, 1957 2,789,517 Hayes Apr. 23, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 514,566 Canada July 12, 1955 365,997 Germany Dec. 27, 1922 534,729 Germany Oct. 1, 1931 3,555 Great Britain of 1893 18,747 G reat Britain Aug. 18, 1913 Switzerland Feb. 7, 1922 

